| Page 2 of 2 < |
Dalai Lama Tells Exiled Tibetans to Be Prudent
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
Although they often shy away from talking about life after the Dalai Lama, more and more Tibetans are starting to say that they fear a power vacuum in which China could take advantage. The process of divining his next reincarnation is extensive, and Tibetans worry that China could meddle.
The Dalai Lama hinted Sunday at the possibility of choosing his successor while he is alive.
"The Dalai Lama is trying to empower the Tibetan people for his retirement," said Kate Saunders, who works for the International Campaign for Tibet.
China, which asserts historical claims over Tibet, has dismissed the meeting of exiled leaders as irrelevant. It has accused the Dalai Lama of being "splittist" and of trying to use the conference to grab one-fourth of China's territory.
The Dalai Lama stressed the importance of reaching out to China's people, instead of the government. "My faith in the Chinese people has never been shaken," he said. "In any dialogue, there are two levels -- dialogue with the government and dialogue with the people."
Inside a reception center for refugees, a 32-year-old Tibetan barley farmer, who made a covert pilgrimage from Tibet to Dharmsala to meet the Dalai Lama, said he was conflicted.
The farmer, who did not want his name used because he hopes to return to China, said he supported the middle way because the Dalai Lama advocated it.
"But my real hope, my personal preference is for independence because it would free Tibetans of Chinese control," he said.
Many in the town said the most significant outcome of the meeting was that it had a democratic feel. The Dalai Lama did not attend the talks, saying he wanted to give participants the chance to have frank discussions.
"It was an exciting moment for Tibetans and a chance to hear many voices," said Lobsang Sangay, a delegate to the talks and a fellow at Harvard Law School who focuses on the issue of democracy in the exile government. "This shows that Tibetans themselves are the future, and that's really significant."
